‘80s & 90s Were the Golden Era of Odia Cinema’

‘80s & 90s Were the Golden Era of Odia Cinema’

With a movie career spanning over 40 years, including more than 100 films as an actor and 28 as a producer, Pradyumna Lenka is amongst the finest artists in Ollywood today. Although he has a repertory of roles to his credit, he shines in that of a father the most. So much so, he is fondly called the ‘Alok Nath of Ollywood’. As a producer, he has to his credit two hugely successful movies, ‘Kandhei Akhire Luha’ and ‘Pua Mora Bhola Sankara’.

Last seen in the 2017 Anubhav Mohanty-starrer ‘Kabula Barabula’, the 65-year-old actor is currently busy shooting for a romantic flick ‘Local Toka Love Chokha’, starring Babushan. On the small screen, Lenka is producing some Odia daily soaps as well as playing a grandfather’s character in the serial ‘To Agana Ra Tulasi Mu’ on Zee Sarthak TV.

As the second in the series ‘Legends of Ollywood’, MCL catches up with the veteran actor for an exclusive interview. Excerpts…

We have heard that you were once a lecturer of history? So how and when did you start acting?

My passion for acting started when I was in school and it has continued ever since. During those days, I had acted in several plays. Later, I joined Annapurna Theatre Group B in Cuttack. Even there, as a member of an amateur group, I acted in many more plays. But then every stage actor cherishes the dream to appear on the big screen, at least once. Therefore, I along with some friends decided to make a movie titled ‘Puja’ in 1978. This film will always be special to me because it marked my debut in Ollywood, both as an actor and producer. Interestingly, it was the same year that I started teaching history at Ghatagaon Tarini College.

As an Ollywood veteran, what do you think are the reasons for the decline in audiences for Odia cinemas?

There are many obvious reasons. One, Odia Jatra has been gaining popularity and then there’s also the huge growth of the TV industry. People have started watching more Hindi movies and want to see the same quality and standard in Odia films. The makers try to cater to the audiences’ taste, but fail to deliver the same results.

Moreover, many of the cinema halls were damaged after the super cyclone in 1999. Out of the 150 cinema halls earlier, only 70 to 80 remain these days. And with cable TV dishing out all the latest movies within two or three months of their release, fewer people go to the halls today. They don’t want to spend money and time to catch a movie in a theatre. Adding to these issues, many producers these days produce films without any knowledge of filmmaking and manage to churn out only flops.

Which was the golden era of Ollywood?

The 80s and 90s were the golden decades of Odia cinema. Then, five out of six or seven movies were hits every year. But today, only five out of every 30 films or so made each year go on to become decent hits. I remember there was a time when movies used to run for more than eight weeks in the theatres and many of them often celebrated silver jubilees too. Towards the end of the 90s, the filmmaking business witnessed a gradual decline.

In your opinion, what is the current situation of our industry’s actors and producers?

Of course, the situation of the artists has improved a lot these days, but the producers are unfortunately facing dire financial situations. They hardly get any returns from a movie. Earlier, actors like Dukhiram Swain, Sameer Swain, Bira Mishra, Hemanta Das, and many others led hard lives. But the current generation of actors like Uttam Mohanty, Bijay Mohanty and Ajit Das are doing far better. At least, they are leading quality lives.

Many Ollywood actors are now into politics. Do you plan to join the bandwagon?

Almost all the political parties have approached me to join them, but I have refused to do so. I neither have any knowledge of politics nor any interest. Only those with political acumen should enter politics. As actors, people may love to see us at their doorsteps, but that does not imply they will vote for us. The star power of an artist is just an added attraction. No, I am not interested in entering politics, ever.

As an actor, you have won accolades and love from your fans. Can you share some memorable moments with us?

Once, I had gone to a hospital to meet one of my costume men, who was injured. There was a woman who had been admitted there for a long time. She was completely bed ridden. When I passed by her bed, she suddenly smiled at me. Later, the doctors told me that it was her first reaction in years after being confined in that sick bed. The experience was truly heart touching. I will cherish the memory forever.